The anti-cheating team at the Egyptian Ministry of Education has identified a student who leaked the thanaweya amma (high school) French language exam on social media on Thursday, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported.

Ministry sources say that the student, who hails from Beni Suef governorate, was arrested in possession of a smart phone used to leak the exam.

The student will be referred to the prosecution over the leak, which is punishable by a fine and imprisonment.

In the past few years, thanaweya amma exams have been repeatedly leaked and shared on Facebook and WhatsApp.

This is the second paper to be leaked this exam season, after an Arabic language exam was posted online on Saturday.

Last year, Egypt's parliament approved amendments toughening the penalties for cheating and other exam violations, including publishing exam questions and papers and having mobile phones or other wireless devices in examination rooms.

Penalties for facilitating exam leaks include hefty fines of EGP 100,000-200,000 and jail terms between two and seven years.

More than 650,000 students are taking this year's tests.